‘Dark days’ ahead of world cricket: Modi on Srinivasan appointment

New Delhi: Former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi predicted “dark days” ahead of world cricket on a day when Narayanaswami Srinivasan was formally appointed the first Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"It is truly a sad day in world cricket as N Srinivasan takes over as the Chairman of the ICC today," said Modi in a statement on Thursday.

"N. Srinivasan despite being removed by Supreme Court as BCCI President has been formally appointed the first Chairman of the ICC after its 52-member council approved a controversial revamp of the body's administrative structure, which in itself is a harbinger of the dark days ahead for world cricket," he after said after Srinivasan's appointment in Melbourne on Thursday.

Modi was appalled to see Srinivasan's elevation despite allegations floating against the BCCI president in exile.

"Consider this - N Srinivasan has been elected the Chairman despite being removed by the Supreme Court of India from the position of BCCI President due to ongoing investigations into the match-fixing allegations relating to the 2013 edition of the IPL,” he said.

"India's FBI, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is pursuing allegations of fraud committed by Srinivasan as managing director of India Cements, which is alleged to have routed scarce water resources with corrupt state officials to double production and profits,” he added.

"Supreme Court Justice AK Patnaik for the first time revealed details about the sealed envelope recently at the case hearing. He said that there were 13 names in the sealed envelope concerning match fixing and spot fixing, Srinivasan's name was the 13th, and he had 12 allegations against him, with annexure to each of them. It seems that Mr Srinivasan has not taken the allegations seriously," Modi added.